CLNCC Meeting - Asbestos And Lead Sign On Letter - 7PM Tuesday, May 21ast In Christiana

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tuesday, May 21st

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike Christiana, DE 19702

Please join us in welcoming NCC Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle to our meeting this month.

June, 18 2019 is our CLNCC Annual Meeting:
Election of Officers

AGENDA May 2019

Call to Order 

Guest: NCC Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle 

Officers Reports 

Treasurer 

Secretary 

Vice Presidents 

President 

Old Business 

New Business

Additional Member Comments

• Bill Dunn will be presenting on the Coastal Zone Regulations Draft 

• Asbestos and Lead Sign On Letter to the General Assembly presented by Sarah Bucic;

Dear Civic League of New Castle County,

Environmental, health and labor organizations are working together in Delaware to reduce the potential for community exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos and lead paint, from demolition projects. 

Demolition of industrial, commercial and multi-family housing facilities that contain asbestos, lead paint, or other hazardous materials in proximity to homes, parks and schools creates a public health risk. 

To prevent community exposures, we have drafted a petition to DNREC asking for regulatory rule-making and a permit structure for demolition where hazardous substances are present.  These regulations should include community notification, air monitoring, and emergency plans if something goes wrong. 

We intend to submit the petition on June 1. 

Please let us know if your group would like to sign on to the petition.   

Sincerely, Sarah Bucic, RN 

PETITION FOR REGULATION-MAKING PROCEEDINGS FOR THE

DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES CONTAINING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

INCLUDING ASBESTOS AND LEAD PAINT

Title 16 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 78. Asbestos establishes an oversight structure by DNREC and the OMB to “ ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public by regulating the practice of asbestos abatement, particularly in locations where the general public can reasonably be expected to have access for the purpose of ensuring that such abatement is performed in such a manner as to minimize exposure to asbestos fibers and contamination.”
§7806 assigns DNREC with the power and duty to “promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the enforcement aspects of this chapter.”
At present, DNREC does not have an adequate oversight structure for the protection of the public. It lacks basic transparency measures (including community notification) to ensure that the public is notified of the demolition activities, data collection (including air monitoring) to ensure that air quality is not diminished, and emergency response plans on file for when something goes wrong. DNREC does not do random site visits to make sure that proper handling procedures are followed. Because DNREC does not issue permits for asbestos removal, it does not collect permit fees to cover the costs of administering the asbestos removal program.
DNREC Regulations 1102 Permits requires an air pollution permit for all “alteration” activities except those that are exempt in Appendix A. Because Appendix A does not include the demolition of any structure, demolition activities, including the removal of hazardous substances from a site, should fall under DNREC air pollution permits. Demolition activities can cause asbestos, lead paint chips, grit or dust, or other hazardous materials to become airborne in close proximity to homes, parks, schools and ecosystems where it can harm public health and the environment. Because DNREC does not presently have any air permit for the demolition of any structure, DNREC regulations and permitting are incomplete.
As stated on the DNREC website, “The mission of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is to ensure the wise management, conservation, and enhancement of the State’s natural resources, protect public health and the environment , provide quality outdoor recreation, improve the quality of life and educate the public on historic, cultural, and natural resource use, requirements and issues.”
To protect public health and the environment and to educate the public about demolition
activities, we the undersigned request the initiation of DNREC regulatory rule-making
proceedings for demolition activities where hazardous materials, including asbestos and lead paint, are removed.
We ask that new regulations and a permit structure be developed for demolition activities where hazardous materials, including asbestos and lead paint, are removed, and that these new regulations and permit structure include:
1. Community notification that includes which hazardous materials are being removed, the timeline for removal, and a public health fact sheet about the health effects of the
specific hazardous materials.
2. Air monitoring at the fenceline daily for the duration of the time period when hazardous materials are being removed from the site, with air monitoring results available to the public.
3. A Site Emergency and Release Response Plan prior to issuance of the permit, which
should include: the immediate notification of the public likely to be impacted of the risks
of exposure; a coordinated effort between property owner, DNREC, and the Delaware
Division of Public Health to protect the health of area residents; personal precautions
that can be taken by individuals; a person to contact for questions/concerns at DNREC,
and; a proposed response timeline.
Such regulations and permit structure shall entail associated permit fees to cover the costs of administering the program. Unscheduled site visits by a DNREC site inspector should be included in the provisions to ensure that all permit provisions are being followed. To ease the burden on small businesses and the public, we suggest limiting the scope of these regulations and permit structure to include commercial, industrial and multi-unit housing where the footprint of the structure exceeds 5000 square feet.

Anyone can sign the petition as an individual. Click on the link HERE to sign this petition.

Please Attend The Public Hearing For NCC Ord. 19.005, 3PM Tuesday, May 21st In Wilmington

The chance to influence New Castle County Council members on reconsidering this ordinance as drafted is now in the final weeks.

Council is expected to be voting on the legislation at their regular meeting on the following Tuesday evening (6:30 p.m. May 28th).

The public hearing this Tuesday will be held at 3 p.m. in council's 8th floor conference room, 800 N. French Street in Wilmington. View the agenda HERE

Listen to the Planning Board discuss flaws in the ordinance HERE

Read more about 19.005 on Facebook HERE

Read CLNCC member comments on the legislation HERE in our April Newsletter

The News Journal is working on a story on the legislation and hopefully will also publish an editorial. CE Meyer has taken the position that the general public and the Planning Board have rejected the ordinance only because they do not understand it. That is an offensive position!

Please let your council representative know we do understand Ord. 19-005 and we want council to amend it by removing the flaws.

Read all of the communications regarding the ordinance at the NCC Land Use Department Project #190050 page HERE.

Future Infill In Northern DE As Worst Case Example Under Proposed NCC Ord. 19-005

(image)

From Nancy Willing - 

NCC is upset that residents are pointing out possible worst case examples after examining the proposed Ord. 19-005. 

We were called out on March 1st by Meyer's Land Use Dept. GM for "misleading people" through having "inaccurately painted the draft ordinance in such a negative light." saying, "Every point in your summary is false"; "alarmist language" etc.. 

But the NCC Planning Board recently argued many of our EXACT same points, as led by former state Senator Karen Peterson.  

And now Meyer et. al. feel perfectly comfortable dismissing Karen Peterson's concerns just as they dismissed ours.  

Please ask your council member if they will also dismiss these concerns when considering to vote for this ordinance as it is currently drafted or will they study these concerns and address them?

Listen to the Planning Board discussion and vote HERE

The image above is from our collaborative community facebook site on the proposed transportation NCC Ordinance 19.005 with this post by R.J. Miles:

Will the 202 corridor look like this in 2050?

Land use protection to the west and a free for all to the east? 

Is NCC laying the foundation for dramatic disparity in land use policy, honoring some constituencies concerns with specific protections in the UDC/Comp Plan, while sacraficing the concerns of others by removing current protections? 

CLNCC Meeting With CE Matt Meyer And Councilman Dave Tackett, 7PM Tuesday, April 16th In Christiana

Civic League for NCC

Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 16th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike

Christiana, DE 19702

Please join us in welcoming County Executive Matt Meyer and Co-Chair of the Land Use Committee, Councilman David Tackett to our meeting this month. 

Other business will include various Director's Reports.

Find CLNCC Information At Our New Website And Sign The Petition Against NCC Ord. 19-005!

Civic League monthly meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike

Christiana, DE 19702

Civic League for New Castle County Announcement!

Our new website is up and running. We still have to carry over older material but for now, please find our latest communications there. 

Our monthly meeting announcements can be found on the new site HERE. Join us, 7 p.m. March 19th in Christiana!

Priority issue for the Civic League is the NCC Ordinance 19-005 now scheduled to be heard at the Planning Board on April 2nd.

Sign the CLNCC Petition against this legislation HERE! To sign, send your name and home address in an email to president@civicleagueforncc.org with the phrase "add my name to this petition letter".

And read our latest update HERE.

Status Update For NCC Transportation Ordinance 19-005

CLNCC Monthly Meeting - With State Senators Anthony DelCollo And Cathy Cloutier - 7PM Tuesday In Christiana

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 19th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike

Christiana, DE 19702

Join us for an evening with State Senators Anthony DelCollo and Cathy Cloutier who will share their legislative priorities for the 150th General Assembly. 

Also with us this month, Miss Delaware USA 2019 Jolisa Copeman will be presenting her environmental platform and sharing her goals for 2019.

Agenda

1) Discussion with guest speakers Cloutier and DelCollo.

•  Voluntary School Assessment MOU: DDOE, BPG and Brandywine School District
•   NCC DLU vs DelDOT for determining Traffic Capacity Scope

2) Miss Delaware USA Jolisa Copeman presents her environmental platform for 2019.

3) CLNCC Sign On Letter protesting proposed changes to the UDC: NCC Ordinance 19-005 

4) Sarah Bucic: Lead Paint Regulations update

5) Bill Dunn: CZA RAC update

6) Nancy Willing: Website Content Support / Newsletter / Directory

7) Environmental initiative to limit use of plastic straws (Dee Durham)

Click over to the new CLNCC website HERE for meeting updates! 

Updated: Coastal Zone Permit Act RAC Open Houses - 5-8PM February 25, 26, And 27 In NCC

Update:

Open House in DE City tonight and tomorrow night in Wilmington for the Coastal Zone Act Permit committee work results. 

You don't have to attend an open house to view and respond to the recommendations of this committee. 

The power point materials and the fact sheet are now posted online and a form is available for public comment - 

DNREC has now posted all of [this] week's Open House materials (including the video presentation, informational posters, and paper handouts) on a dedicated web page on the DNREC website: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/…/conversion-…/open-houses/

This web page is also accessible via the Conversion Permits web page (de.gov/conversionpermits) and the CZCPA RAC web page (de.gov/czcparac). 

An online version of the Feedback Form that will be handed out at the Open Houses can also be accessed, filled out, and submitted via the Open Houses web page. The Feedback Form will be accessible through Friday, March 1, 2019. After this date, further feedback can be directed to CZA_Conversion_Permits@delaware.gov. 

Thank you for your continued interest in the state's coastal zone. We look forward to seeing many of you at one of next week's Open Houses. 

Thank you,Ian YueCoastal Planner
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
100 W. Water Street, Suite 5A | Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 735-3480 | Fax: (302) 739-1840

Open House Online Materials HERE

Preliminary Recommendations Packet HERE

Open House Online Feedback Form HERE

DNREC to hold open houses Feb. 25, 26, and 27 seeking public input on preliminary recommendations from the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will hold three public open houses  in New Castle County this month – on Feb. 25, 26 and 27 – seeking input on preliminary recommendations made by the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee.

The Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act requires DNREC to develop and promulgate regulations for the redevelopment of 14 heavy industry use sites in Delaware’s Coastal Zone by Oct. 1, 2019. The Regulatory Advisory Committee was convened by DNREC in June 2018 to provide recommendations regarding the regulations.

The open houses will present the Committee’s preliminary recommendations for the public to review and provide comment. The open houses will be held from 5-8 p.m. on these three dates:

• Monday, Feb. 25, Claymont Community Center, 3301 Green Street, Claymont, DE 19703
• Tuesday, Feb. 26, Delaware City Fire Hall, 815 5th Street, Delaware City, DE 19706
• Wednesday, Feb. 27, Elbert Palmer Elementary School, 1210 Lobdell Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Members of the public may attend at any point and for any length of time during the open houses.

Each open house will follow the same format. Attendees will be able to view a video presentation about the legislative changes and the process leading to the Regulatory Advisory Committee’s preliminary recommendations. Attendees will also be able to walk around and visit various informational booths that explain the different aspects of the Committee’s preliminary recommendations. Attendees will be able to provide input on feedback forms. The forms will be available at the workshop as well as on DNREC’s website prior to the events.

Public input gathered at the workshops will be compiled by the Consensus Building Institute (CBI), a non-profit organization that has facilitated the Regulatory Advisory Committee’s meetings. CBI will compile all public input into a report and provide the report to the Committee for its consideration before finalizing its recommendations to DNREC. DNREC will also make the report available for the public to view on its website.

For more information on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee, please visit www.de.gov/czcparac. [Open house materials and feedback forms will be available at de.gov/czcparac prior to the Open Houses.]

To receive updates on the regulatory process for developing conversion permits, you can also subscribe to the Coastal Zone Act email listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.u.s

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

With this from Bill Dunn ~

Above is a list of three Coastal Zone Workshops including dates and locations.  In light of the Croda incident days after Thanksgiving and the PBF Energy oil refinery fire a couple of days ago, WE all need to demand responsible redevelopment of the 14 Industrial Sites along the Delaware River.  Community involvement has been limited and the vast majority of members of all the groups have little to no technical background (not the best people to define technical regulations). 

Below are the two links for the RAC (Regulatory Advisory Committee) and the sub-groups that put forth recommendations to the RAC.  

The RAC page is here:  https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-zone-act/conversion-permits/regulatory-advisory-committee/ 

And the RAC Working Group site:  https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-zone-act/conversion-permits/regulatory-advisory-committee/work-groups/ 

Both sites contain the Minutes of meetings.  I have attended many of the meetings and if you would like to discuss what went on, please feel free to contact me. 

Bill Dunn, email: bill_done@msn.com 

Civic League for NCC - VP

Note: CLNCC is in the process of transferring this blog to our new website! It is a work in progress but look for new articles at  https://civicleagueforncc.org/

Next Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act RAC Meeting is 9AM Tuesday, January 22nd In Wilmington

Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory

Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 22 in Wilmington

The eighth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Delaware Technical Community College Orlando J. George Jr. Campus, Southeast Building, Conference Room A and B (1st Floor), 300 North Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. More information about the Jan. 22 RAC meeting, including the agenda, can be found on the state public meeting calendar athttps://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/61696.
Upcoming monthly CZCPA RAC meetings, each starting at 9 a.m., are scheduled for the following dates, locations, and times:

·         Tuesday, Feb. 19, DNREC Lukens Drive Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle DE 19720 

·         Tuesday, Mar. 12, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720 

·         Tuesday, Apr. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720

All RAC meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on theCoastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

Updated: New Castle County Council Should Focus On Audit Report Findings And Stop The Rush On Proposals

A cross-post from Nancy Willing's Delaware Way FYI -

Heady days over at New Castle County Council. 

The ever-feisty Finance Committee Co-Chair George Smiley continues issuing proposals for which the public is being denied due process, IMO. 

Matters of serious weight are being introduced and voted on in a single day. Public hearings in the afternoon committees and a vote hours later appears to be the new normal. 

Check out Smiley's "Emergency Ordinance" for addiction program support for Tuesday's agenda. Isn't that an abuse of the code? Why is it necessary to shove this initiative through as if it were an emergency and circumvent the regular two week process for consideration of Ordinances? I understand the need for the ordinance, as federal funding has expired for this very worthy program that provides for a staff coordinator's salary and Narcan kits but I do not understand the hurry.

I hope the public starts to object strongly to this new standard where citizens and news media are getting one week's notice for searching out, contemplating and responding to actions of NCC Council. 

Back in November, Mr. Smiley pushed his paranoia about Karen Hartley-Nagle through County Council and to the General Assembly in a single afternoon. 

Next week, the 1:30 p.m. January 8th Finance Committee meeting agenda shows two council employee-related policy issues on track for passage in a single day (and that appear to have been motivated solely to strip Council President authority from council policies)....

R19-017: TO AMEND THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK SECTION 3.8 (“DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY”). Introduced by: Mr. Smiley 

R19-012: TO AMEND SECTION 2.5 OF THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK REGARDING OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT. Introduced by: Mr. Smiley

Unfortunately, it looks like George Smiley will continue to busy himself with ferreting out and striking any mention of the Council President from within the governance structure. 

Smiley's focus on amending employee hiring and drug testing policy this week strikes me as extremely odd considering the ONE MAJOR FINDING of a recent independent audit (read it below) concerns the laxity of oversight over council employees' time and attendance:

In our opinion, adequate internal controls exist in all material respects except for weaknesses in the employee management area. Our audit revealed numerous instances where time and attendance was not properly recorded. We have worked with management to identify areas where control enhancements can be made.

Wouldn't we, the public, rather our electeds address and fix problems already on the table?

Final Draft Council Finance... by on Scribd

Also see:

HERO HELP ADDICTIONASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Updated: NCC Council Should Ask Smiley To Table His Bid To Remove Powers Of NCC Council President Until The Rest Of Us Can Weigh In


------------------------------------

An update from Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick is posted below. 

I could find no evidence on the county website that a notice of the emergency ordinances was 'advertised' on December 14th and have asked where I can find it:

Just a few responses to your article about Councilman Smiley, as I feel that facts are important.  I've included Councilman Bell on this email as he has also requested to be a co-sponsor. as well as our attorney as he has opined on the justification for the need to run this as an Emergency Ordinance.

Emergency Ordinance  - I am the prime sponsor.  After we learned that the funding would run out on Dec 31, and we heard that the Administration was looking for ways to keep the program alive, I asked if there was a way that Council could assist in keeping the program alive through the end of this Fiscal year - the most important aspects being the coordinator (not a desk job, but a victim contact position) and the nurses under contract (the medical portion of victim contact).  As Mr. Smiley is the Finance Co-chair I consulted with him about the best way to approach this, with the purpose being to match what the Administration funds, up to $50,000.  We advertised this beginning on Dec 14th to give the public as much notice as possible, knowing that we didn't want to wait until the end of the month to make the finances available. 

        I.            EMERGENCY ORDINANCES: EO19-001 - AMEND THE GRANTS BUDGET: APPROPRIATE FUNDING FROM THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY FY2019 COUNCIL CONTINGENCY BUDGET TO THE HERO HELP ADDICTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. Introduced by: Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Smiley Fiscal Note: EO19-002 - AMEND THE FY2019 APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET: REDUCE THE FY2019 NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL CONTINGENCY BUDGET TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE HERO HELP ADDICTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Introduced by: Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Smiley Fiscal Note: Because of the emergency nature of these Ordinances, County Council intends to introduce and consider for approval both Ordinances during the Council Meeting scheduled for January 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in New Castle County Council Chambers.

I had heard that the State was considering giving some grant towards this program (not confirmed) but that their funds could not be used for anything that would allow contact with the victims.  That obviously is not a help to this program and if it is true it could not be voted on until they came back in January.  So either the program continues with no break in service or it stops.  Therefore the decision was pretty easy for me --- if there's a break in service we lose the consistency with the victim.  It's pretty hard to have constant discussions about the opiod crisis and then hinder the programs in place.  Therefore the decision was made, by me, to run an emergency ordinance to assure that the funding is available, and in opposition to your comment that we hope no one notices - I personally hope everyone notices!  The public should know that we are doing everything we can to help keep innovative programs going.  I would hate for the public to think that we sit in meetings and listen to the Public Safety Director, but don't think it's important enough to give from our budget to keep it going through the hard times.   Another Ordinance will be run within the normal timeframe, which will rescind the emergency ordinance and insert a regular Ordinance in its place.

Drug Policy -- During the conversation about the drug policy for subcontractors that Mr. Sheldon introduced and had passed prior to the Holidays, there was discussion about pulling out one group for random testing, and not including everyone.  Mr. Smiley indicated at that time that he felt Mr. Sheldon's ordinance was worthy and that he would continue working on an Ordinance that was more inclusive to Council.  This is that Ordinance.  Any other Ordinance would have to come to us through Purchasing.  The process for the vote on this issue is no different than any other inhouse changes that we have made. Several individuals, including Mr. Smiley, Mr. Sheldon and me, have introduced and passed policy changes.

Personnel Policy - many areas of concern placed before us with that audit, which is now probably 5 years old, have been addressed and are continuing to be addressed.  As each aide works for an individual councilperson who may require them to attend morning meetings, there are times that sign in comes after the regular starting time or there are times when meetings are attended during the day, especially at the end of the day where sign outs might appear earlier than the normal closing time.  We now require more verification for those instances. 

Janet Kilpatrick
3rd District New Castle County Council Member
800 N. French St. - 8th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801

PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL AND WEB SITE ADDRESSES
Janet.Kilpatrick@newcastlede.gov302-395-8343 - work
302-234-1994 - home
www.newcastlede.gov/council

CLNCC Monthly Meeting - With Legislators Bryan Townsend And Paul Baumbach - Set For 7PM Tuesday, January 15th In Christiana

Civic League for New Castle County

Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 15th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

Please join the Civic League for New Castle County for a robust discussion on 2019 governance initiatives with State Rep. Paul Baumbach and the newly-minted State Senate Majority Whip, Bryan Townsend!

And check out our new website HERE!

Agenda

1) Discussion with guest speakers Townsend and Baumbach

• Voluntary School Assessment MOU: DDOE, BPG and Brandywine School District
• NCC DLU vs DelDOT for determining Traffic Capacity Scope

2) Bill for possible Resolution: HB 25 Neighborhood Garbage Collector Agreements

3) Nick Wasileski: LLC Regulations update

4) Sarah Bucic: Lead Paint Regulations update

5) Bill Dunn: CZA RAC update

6) Nancy Willing: Intern for Website Content Support / Newsletter / Directory

7) Environmental initiative to limit use of plastic straws (Dee Durham)

2018 Sussex County Comprehensive Plan Adopted

Sussex County adopts comprehensive plan

Sussex County has a blueprint to build its future.

County Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, adopted the County’s 2018 comprehensive plan update, the culmination of more than two years’ worth of work, with scores of public meetings, workshops, and outreach that attracted hundreds of comments, suggestions, and ideas from residents, business owners, government officials and others on how Sussex County should move forward as a growing community in the decades ahead.

The 280-page plan, which will guide County officials in various levels of decision-making, has yielded more than 100 strategies focused on everything from land use, conservation, and housing to transportation, utilities, and economic development, all of which will be considered for implementation during the lifespan of the plan. The strategies could take form as new ordinances or policies that County officials will weigh in the weeks and months to come.

“This is a momentous occasion for the County as we look forward to the future, one that will bring significant challenges but tremendous opportunity in the decade ahead,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “I am very proud of the work by the County Council, the Planning & Zoning Commission, our staff, the consultant, and frankly from the public during this two-year journey. It has been a community effort in the truest sense, and what we are left with is a vision I hope everyone is proud of.”

Some of the key strategies in the adopted plan include:

· Ways to preserve, promote and strengthen agriculture’s presence in the county, including through a possible agribusiness district that would add certain permitted ag-related support uses to low-density areas;

·   Several initiatives to review and potentially overhaul the County’s land use code, specifically measures that would focus on wetland protection, forestry preservation, and water quality;

·  Forming a County-level transportation committee, which would work with State officials to better monitor, coordinate and prioritize road projects;

·   The establishment of economic development zones to focus job creation and private investment in and around targeted communities;

·    Stimulating the construction of workforce/affordable housing through a review of existing impediments to such housing, and incentives, including the possibility of a community development fund.

Council’s vote to approve the document is the first major update of the County’s comprehensive plan since the last version was adopted in 2008. Delaware law mandates that all counties and municipalities have a comprehensive plan in place. Counties and municipalities must review and update those plans for State certification every 10 years, while providing yearly updates on the progress of implementation. The adopted plan now moves to the State for certification.

A comprehensive plan, among other things, serves as the standard for how development occurs and how land use is governed in a community over a long-term period. Such plans are used by local governments to not only establish land-use policies and identify growth areas, but also to give consideration to various other community concerns, such as affordable housing availability, agriculture preservation, open space protection, historic preservation, economic development and transportation mobility.

County Council President Michael H. Vincent said Sussex County will be a stronger community a generation from now because of the efforts of so many people today, especially an engaged citizenry that crowded meetings, pored over documents, and wrote letters and emails to express their ideas. “This was a marathon process, for sure, but it was an important process nevertheless. And I think we’re all better for it, and certainly Sussex County will be a better place today for all of us, and tomorrow for our children and their children,” Mr. Vincent said.

For more information on the Sussex County comprehensive plan, visit www.sussexplan.com.